I am Italian from a nearby place to Veneto: can confirm that there is an obnoxious cultural protectionism that’s appalling. In general people are very friendly and kind, but so close minded… I only grew out of it (I think?) once I moved abroad. It’s bittersweet, because it’s nice to be proud of being part of a community, but at the same time there is much emptiness in thinking of oneselves as something special just for what’s on the passport.
The funny part was that she traveled to Italy alone from Canada … her Italian relatives scolded her and said that is definitely not something an Italian woman should do. If they were Italian at all.
I am Italian from a nearby place to Veneto: can confirm that there is an obnoxious cultural protectionism that’s appalling. In general people are very friendly and kind, but so close minded… I only grew out of it (I think?) once I moved abroad. It’s bittersweet, because it’s nice to be proud of being part of a community, but at the same time there is much emptiness in thinking of oneselves as something special just for what’s on the passport.
The funny part was that she traveled to Italy alone from Canada … her Italian relatives scolded her and said that is definitely not something an Italian woman should do. If they were Italian at all.